Default Dynamic Port Range

This article explains the default dynamic port range used by the client computers.

Dynamic Port Range is used by the client computers (or a server acting as a client) to connect to Well Known Port Services or Root Services. A DNS Server is acting as a Server and listening on a specific Well Known Port (Port TCP and UDP 53). The Dynamic Port Range used by the client computers depend on the version of Operating Systems.

Port Range: 1024-65535

This port range is used by the computers running Windows XP, Windows 2000 Professional, and Windows Server 2003. A client computer running this version will always pick a port from the above mentioned Dynamic Port Range.

Port Range: 49152-65535

The Dynamic Port Range has been changed in the Windows Vista, Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008. By default, a fresh Windows Server 2008 installation will have this Dynamic Port Range configured. To see the port range, you can use the following commands:

The Author — Nirmal Sharma

Nirmal is a MCSEx3, MCITP and was awarded Microsoft MVP award in Directory Services and Windows Networking. He is specialized in Directory Services, Microsoft Clustering, Hyper-V, SQL and Exchange and has been involved in Microsoft Technologies since 1994.

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